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Suspect deemed dangerous in alleged Fitchburg laundromat hold-up

By Katina Caraganis , kcaraganis@sentinelandenterprise.com

Updated:
10/30/2013 07:32:22 AM EDT

FITCHBURG -- A Fitchburg man charged with robbing two women at knifepoint at a laundromat on John Fitch Highway on Sunday, Oct. 20, was deemed dangerous Tuesday and ordered held without bail for 90 days in Fitchburg District Court.

Matthew M. Mack, 29, no fixed address, is charged with two counts of armed robbery, larceny of a motor vehicle, malicious destruction of property under $250, larceny from a building, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Relatives of Mack, including his father and longtime girlfriend, who he has children with, wrote letters on Mack's behalf, saying that under normal circumstances, Mack is a loving and devoted father who would do anything for anyone. Their letters suggest that Mack needs to be medicated and undergo treatment, but they did not elaborate for what condition.

Police were called to the Ultra Wash Laundromat on John Fitch Highway on Oct. 20 for a report of an armed robbery. The suspect had fled the scene.

An employee at the Laundromat said Mack first entered the facility at 5:20 a.m., asking how much it cost to use the machines. He left, and allegedly came back in with a knife that resembled a steak knife with a wooden handle. Court documents show that Mack ordered the attendant to empty her pockets and bring him to an ATM machine.

He demanded money from the backroom cash box and attempted to break into the front change-exchange machine before leaving.

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He fled the scene but then returned, demanding that a Greenville, N.H. woman give him money and her car keys. When she refused, he allegedly grabbed her by the neck and held the knife to her throat.

Before taking the victim's car, he allegedly cut the phone lines and chased one of the women behind the facility and held the knife to her throat again. He then took her car, which had a kayak strapped to the top, in addition to her purse, cellphone, credit cards and $200 in cash inside, according to police.

The car was spotted by a state trooper on Route 2. Mack was taken into custody in Gardner and turned over to police in Fitchburg.

Mack is due back in court for a preconference hearing Nov. 26, and is scheduled for a 90-day bail hearing on Jan. 24.

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